Monthly monitoring price: Vivint's month fees start at around $32 per month for basic security sensors and increase by $5/mo. for every camera added to the system. ADT's monitoring fees range from about $46 to $65 per month based on whether you add smart home devices and video recording. (ADT also has a $28.99 plan that's only for landline systems.)
Equipment fee: Vivint allows you to buy its equipment for a one-time fee or bundle it into your monthly fees. With ADT, the cost of the equipment is always bundled into the monthly cost of the system, which could save you hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars in upfront costs.
Contract: Vivint offers a month-to-month service contract to customers who pay for all of their equipment upfront. If you need to finance the equipment, Vivint requires a 3.5- to 5-year service contract. ADT's contracts typically last 3 years.
When choosing a home security provider, consider contract terms, cancellation policies, and whether you’ll own the equipment. The FTC has great information on how to protect yourself from poor cancellation policies.
Cancellation policies: Vivint requires 100% of the remaining balance to be paid before the contract can be cancelled. With ADT, only 75% of the remaining balance is owed.
Money-back guarantee: ADT has the most generous money-back guarantee in the industry at a whopping 6 months. Vivint gives you just 3 days to trial the system.
Theft protection guarantee: If your ADT system is armed and someone still breaks into your house, ADT will pay up to $500 toward your insurance deductible. Vivint doesn't offer this.
Equipment selection: Both brands sell home security essentials with a couple unique offerings, such as Vivint's wearable panic button and a DVR that stores up to 10 days of continuous video storage. Of the two brands, only ADT sells a heat sensor, whole-home siren, and smart light bulbs. Learn more in our Vivint equipment and ADT equipment guides.
Warranty: ADT doesn't offer a warranty, but Vivint isn't much better because its limited warranty only lasts 120 days (4 months). Both companies offer paid protection plans instead.